Why bother with dating when you already have a cat?

What does your uncle do?

"My Chinese teacher is a top student from university back in the day," Kong Fugui shook his head helplessly. "To put it more broadly, my cousin could also be considered from a scholarly family, but the truth is..."

"How can you talk about your own sister like that?" Ai Qing rubbed her forehead, somewhat speechless. "Actually, she just had a lot of relationships in college. If she can settle down after graduation, it's not so bad, right?"

You can't expect too much these days.

So Ai Qing simply didn't make any demands and decided not to look for anyone.

"I was just saying that, I just don't like people who say one thing to your face and another behind your back," Kong Fugui said with a pursed lip. "Sister Qian is the best."

Xiao Youqian is quite frank in this regard. If a potential romantic interest asks her how many boyfriends she has had before, she will tell him directly without any intention of hiding anything.

If you can accept it, then stay together; if you can't, then break up.

She moved back to Linping District from downtown Hangzhou because her parents knew about her past relationships and, after much desperation, wanted to find her a blind date after she graduated.

Xiao Youqian always tells potential blind dates how many boyfriends she's had, which immediately discourages them.

Finally, I got annoyed by my parents' constant nagging and simply moved back to my hometown to live alone.

At least they don't cheat honest people anymore... Ai Qing doesn't really approve of her two friends' views on love, but at least they don't lie to people, which shows they have some conscience.

"What if the guy turns out to be a nice person? What will you say when you get back?"

"Just tell the truth," Kong Fugui said. "I have no obligation to be responsible for strangers. I can only say that my brother is unlucky, or pray that my cousin really turns over a new leaf and becomes a good woman."

"Very good, it's an eye-opener for me, consider it research material." Ai Qing sighed.

He now has only one thought: after seeing more and more things, he feels more and more that Xiaoyu is better.

Even if the little fish is just a kitten.

At this moment, Kong Fugui, who was opposite, suddenly said, "They're here. Look at the door, that's my cousin."

Upon hearing his words, Ai Qing turned to look at the doorway. A girl was walking in front of her, and she looked somewhat familiar.

I feel like I've seen this somewhere before...

When Ai Qing saw the dark-skinned, burly man following behind the girl, he instantly realized what was going on. He then looked sharply at Kong Fugui and saw a shocked expression on his face.

“No…” Ai Qing was speechless. “You didn’t even ask about the man’s situation before you came? You could at least have asked for his name.”

Seeing Wu Yong walk in with his cousin, Kong Fugui was shocked and momentarily lost his mind.

After a long pause, he finally said, "I just promised my uncle I'd come and see. Who cares what that man does?"

"This isn't the first time they've met, is it?" Ai Qing asked.

"They said they'd met him once before. Aside from his low income, I heard he was pretty good in other aspects, and also honest," Kong Fugui said. "How was I supposed to know it was Old Wu?"

At this moment, Wu Yong clearly noticed Ai Qing and Kong Fugui at the next table, and his expression immediately became interesting.

Wu Yong, who usually doesn't show any exaggerated expressions, was unusually unable to hold back at this moment.

Fortunately, Kong Fugui's cousin was also winking at her cousin at that moment and didn't notice Wu Yong's strange behavior.

Once the two were seated, their expressions returned to calm.

"By the way, why would you ask if it was the first time they'd met?"

After the people at the next table started chatting and ordering food, Kong Fugui gradually realized what was going on and asked Ai Qing.

“I happened to be eating at the next table when they went on their first blind date.” Ai Qing said speechlessly, “I knew he was going on a blind date back then, but I never knew it was with your cousin.”

"No way, you guys aren't very brotherly. You didn't even tell me you were going on a blind date?" Kong Fugui exclaimed in surprise, then looked at Ai Qing with a questioning expression. "You too, you found a girlfriend secretly. If I hadn't accidentally found out that day, you would still have kept it well hidden."

"That's great, they've all grown up and can do things behind their brothers' backs now."

“I don’t hide my relationships with girlfriends at all, but you guys are like secret agents, doing such a good job of keeping the news under wraps.”

"That's because Lao Wu wouldn't let me say it." Ai Qing clicked her tongue twice. "Relationships are never a sure thing, unlike you who's so carefree."

The two chatted for a while, and their dishes were served one after another.

The people at the next table had also ordered their food; both sides understood each other without saying a word.

If Ai Qing and Kong Fugui hadn't listened carefully, they wouldn't have known what the people next door were talking about.

As the meal progressed, Ai Qing and Kong Fugui grew increasingly silent. Finally, around 6:30 in the evening, the people next door finished their business.

After Wu Yong and Kong Fugui's cousin got up and left, Ai Qing looked at what Kong Fugui had posted on his phone.

A short while later, Wu Yong returned to the shop.

"Here, here." Kong Fugui beckoned, gesturing for Lao Wu to sit down beside him, and then put his arm around his shoulder.

"You told him?" Wu Yong asked, somewhat annoyed, looking at Ai Qing with a suspicious expression.

Ai Qing waved her hands repeatedly to show her innocence: "You can't just say things like that. I didn't even know you were going on a blind date today. It was Gui Gui who dragged me here."

"Then how did you know I was here? It couldn't have been a coincidence, could it?" Wu Yong looked at Kong Fugui again, his face full of suspicion.

“The girl you went on a blind date with is my cousin. Her dad asked me to come and check on the guy today. How was I supposed to know it would be you?” Kong Fugui rolled his eyes. “It’s your fault for keeping it from me. Otherwise, this whole mess wouldn’t have happened.”

“What’s so interesting about a blind date?” Wu Yong said sullenly. “I didn’t even want to come, but my mom insisted I come.”

"Don't you want to come?" Ai Qing asked curiously. "Didn't you say before that you thought it was okay?"

“But I don’t feel that way anymore.” Wu Yong sighed. “Isn’t she a nursing intern? Before, when she was working the night shift at the hospital, my mom encouraged me to wait for her to get off work and pick her up, have a late-night snack or just take her home, give her a little surprise, at least to build up some relationship.”

"I couldn't persuade her otherwise, so I asked her when she finished her night shift and went to wait for her at the hospital entrance."

"Then I saw her walking out chatting and laughing with a doctor. Before she left, the doctor even touched her hair."

"She said there was something in my hair and helped me remove it, but I still felt something was wrong. This time, my mom insisted that I come out."

"Good, good, good." Ai Qing clapped her hands. "I like this melodramatic and classic plot."

“That’s normal.” Kong Fugui crossed his arms. “Whether they are boys or girls, they are hunters among the same sex. As long as the prey is within their hunting range, they will offer some insignificant bait during communication and interaction.”

"She just thinks that the male doctor is a good catch, so she's just keeping him hanging on. She gives him a little something now and then to maintain this kind of relationship where she can advance or retreat as she pleases."

“My sister mastered this skill in college, she’s an expert now, Lao Wu, you can’t beat her.”

Wu Yong looked at Kong Fugui with disdain: "Why is your family full of people like you?"

“You can’t just say things like that.” Kong Fugui straightened his chest. “My brother is still very honest. You can’t ruin his reputation. He’ll be the one to inherit our family business in the future.”

"So what do we do now?" Ai Qing just wanted to go home as soon as possible, so she asked Wu Yong for his final choice.

Wu Yong was also in a bit of a dilemma: "I can't exactly tell my mom the truth, can I? She and that guy's dad are colleagues in the same office at school, it would be so awkward."

"A short pain is worse than a long one," Kong Fugui chuckled. "Otherwise, why wait until you two kiss and go to bed before breaking up? Don't follow my example, or I'm afraid you'll be entangled to death."

"Who said they wouldn't care whether my brother lived or died?" Ai Qing said to Kong Fugui.

“How can that be the same?” Kong Fugui retorted. “Ordinary brothers are strangers, and I can’t interfere. But this is my good brother’s life-long event, so I certainly can’t ignore it.”

"I suggest you just downplay it," Ai Qing said, waving her hand. "If your mom asks, just say you're really not interested, and then ask your mom if there are any other girls you'd like to meet."

"Once your mom has introduced you to a lot of people, just say you're busy taking the physical education teacher certification exam and need to take a break. We can talk about it during the summer vacation, and it will pass by naturally."

"Don't tell your mom about his cousin, lest the two language teachers have a fight in the office."

"Alright then," Wu Yong said, having no other choice. "I'll go back and give it a try."

After the three finished their conversation, they left the Japanese restaurant.

Since it was a rare opportunity for them to get together, Kong Fugui simply dragged the two of them to an internet cafe.

Ai Qing originally wanted to go home and write, but Kong Fugui was so insistent that he couldn't refuse. He could only follow his good brother to the city of self-isolation and go on a killing spree.

……

Around 8 or 9 p.m., Ai Qing received a WeChat message while in the internet cafe.

Upon opening it, I discovered it was sent by Xiaoyu.

[Ai Chi Yu]: Brother, when are you coming home? Little Fish misses you.

Seeing the innocent and adorable message from Xiaoyu, Aiqing felt a heartfelt sense of happiness, thinking about the little cat girl waiting for her at home.

Comparing my experiences with the girls I know in real life and the various things I've seen online, it's clear that raising a cat is much more reliable than dating.

[Rise, my dear subject]: I was at an internet cafe with my friend. You know those two people, do you remember them?

[Ai Chi Yu]: I remember! One was heartbroken at an internet cafe, and the other was on a blind date at a barbecue restaurant!

Little Fish has a very good memory, or rather, the world she has been exposed to is still very small, so she remembers many things very clearly.

[Rise, my subject]: We'll play until the early hours of the morning. I'll go home in a few hours. Be good at home, okay?

[Ai Eats Fish]: Is it taking that long? Can the little fish come over and play with us later?

If Ai Qing doesn't go back soon, the warm current will accumulate very slowly.

Since that's the case, it's better to come out sooner.

With Ai Qing by my side providing warmth, even if the warmth hasn't been fully accumulated yet, it can still last for three or four hours.

Seeing Xiaoyu's anticipation, Ai Qing stroked her chin and, considering the distance between the internet cafe and her home, suddenly had a bold idea.

[Rise, my subject]: Little Fish, would you like to try going out of your house alone after you turn into a human?

Chapter 104 Little Fish Goes Out Alone!

[Ai Eats Fish]: Huh?!

[Ai Eats Fish]: Can the little fish go out by itself?

[Rise, my subject]: Yes, I usually take you out, but you have to learn to go out on your own eventually. It's impossible for me to take you out of the house forever.

【Ai Eats Fish】: Why not? When my brother is busy, I can stay home obediently.

When Ai Qing saw this sentence, she felt a warmth in her heart.

But he knew that this alone was not enough.

Little Fish is no longer his pet; she is a living, breathing person, a girl whose mental age is still very young and who needs proper education and guidance.

Ai Qing sincerely hopes that she can shed her pet mentality and truly become a person, enjoying the wonderful life brought about by social progress.

If she has always relied on Ai Qing to try to access the new world, then Ai Qing is an indispensable bridge between her and the world.

Ai Qing was naturally willing to be this bridge, and the time they spent together made him feel that he would be willing to be a bridge for a lifetime.